Knives Out: The Glass Onion (2022), directed by Rian Johnson

Politician Claire, scientist Lionel, fading socialite Birdie and MRA Youtuber Duke are summoned to the private Greek island of billionaire genius Miles Bron, who they all knew before he made it. Also present are famous detective Benoit Blanc, apparently invited by accident, and the billionaire’s shafted former partner, Andi. There follows a murder mystery within a murder mystery, in a Christie-esque series of twists and turns that can only be unravelled by the formidable Blanc. Edward Norton portrays Miles Bron in a thinly veiled takedown or tech bros such as Zuckerberg and Musk. Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr, Kate Hudson and Dave Bautista are the friends who have benefitted from Bron’s largesse and find they owe him, perhaps more than they can pay. The performances are hit and miss, with Janelle Monae the standout as Andi. Numerous celebrity cameos, including Hugh Grant, Angela Lansbury, Natasha Lyonne, Stephen Sondheim, Ethan Hawke and Serena Williams add fun.

See How They Run (2022), directed by Tom George

Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap is celebrating its 100th performance in the West End and is about to be made into a film by an obnoxious Hollywood director. When he is found dead the case is investigated by a world-weary Scotland Yard inspector with an enthusiastic WPC as his offsider. The twisty plot involves Christie herself and sends up both the author and the play’s star, Richard Attenborough. The film is funny and suspenseful, with lots of sly in-jokes, paying homage to Christie’s oeuvre with tongue firmly in cheek. Amid a stellar cast, including Adrien Brody, Sam Rockwell, Ruth Wilson and Shirley Henderson, Saoirse Ronan shines brightest as the rookie copper, Constable Stalker. Set in 1950s London, it all looks beautiful and along the way makes a few gentle points about appropriating true crime stories for fictional entertainment.